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The Bombay Beach Institute (BBI) is a creative think tank and community hub based in Bombay Beach, a small town on the shores of the Salton Sea in California. Founded by filmmakers Dulcinée DeGuere and Tao Ruspoli alongside a collective of artists, intellectuals, and local stakeholders, the Institute presents itself as a platform for open conversation, radical ideas, artistic and philosophical experimentation, and innovative community engagement. The BBI also contributes to the planning and execution of the Bombay Beach Biennale, an annual avant-garde art festival co-founded by Ruspoli in 2016.[1]
History
[edit]The Institute was conceived in response to the growing success of the Bombay Beach Biennale, which transformed the town of Bombay Beach into a site of artistic and cultural significance.[2] The BBI had been seasonally hosting events for several years, including at the Bombay Beach Biennale.[3] It was formalized in January 2025 as a continually operating organization aimed at advancing and sustaining the Bombay Beach Biennale's ethos of artistic experimentation and community engagement.[4]
The BBI's founders drew inspiration from think tanks, artist collectives, and intellectual movements that challenge conventional norms. The BBI is also inspired by the town of Bombay Beach itself. Bombay Beach is a microcosm of broader societal challenges including environmental degradation and socio-economic inequality. Especially since the founding of the Bombay Beach Biennale, the town also embodies the evolving role of art and technology in contemporary society.
Programs and Initiatives
[edit]The Bombay Beach Institute casts itself as an interdisciplinary environment where art, philosophy, and social innovation intersect. It offers a variety of programs and initiatives.
- Residencies: Hosting writers, artists, and scholars for immersive creative projects that engage with the town and its surroundings. The 2025 writer in residence is Marya Hornbacher.[5]
- Workshops and Conferences: Covering topics such as philosophy, anarchist governance, AI and art, environmental solutions, and experimental social models. For example, in January 2025, the BBI hosted the annual conference of the American Society of Existential Phenomenology (ASEP), a group that was founded by the philosopher Hubert Dreyfus. (Several of the philosophers affiliated with ASEP serve on the BBI's board of directors and advisory board.)
- Seasonal Programming: Including art installations, performances, lectures, and community events.
- Community Engagement: Facilitating partnerships with local organizations, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders to create initiatives that benefit the town and its residents.
- Archival and Research Projects: Documenting Bombay Beach's transformation, with a focus on preserving its cultural and environmental history.
Organizational Structure
[edit]The Bombay Beach Institute operates as a non-profit organization, with a Board of Directors and Advisors comprising artists, academics, and philanthropists. The leadership includes Tao Ruspoli as Chairman and Dulcinée DeGuere as CEO, alongside a rotating group of collaborators and contributors. The Board of Directors includes Mark Wrathall and Eric Kaplan, and the board of advisors includes Sean Dorrance Kelly.
Infrastructure
[edit]BBI's facilities are spread across several unique sites in Bombay Beach, each tailored to a thematic focus. These include:
- The Bombay Beach Institute of Endless Poetry at the Poetry House trailer.
- The Bombay Beach Institute of Particle Physics, Metaphysics, and International Relations at 5th and H Streets.[3]
- The Bombay Beach Museum of Bombay Beach, which features both gallery and meeting spaces.
References
[edit]- ^ McPhate, Mike (2017-04-19). "California Today: A Look at the Anti-Burning Man". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
- ^ Green, Penelope (2019-04-12). "How Much Hip Can the Desert Absorb?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
- ^ a b "Bombay Beach Biennale: Co-Creating a Cultural Revival at the Salton Sea". PBS SoCal. 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
- ^ Abunassar, Lauren (2023-04-07). "At the Bombay Beach Biennale, Art Asks Questions of a Living Ghost Town". LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles. Retrieved 2025-01-24.
- ^ Hornbacher, Marya (2025-01-03). "To Build a Fire, Part 3". Going Solo at the End of the World. Retrieved 2025-01-24.